Posted by New York’s Senate Republicans want a public airing of the deal for video slot machines at the Aqueduct racetrack in Queens, and Assembly Minority Leader Sheldon Silver has asked the state inspector general to review it.
Silver, Gov. David Paterson, and Senate Democratic conference leader John Sampson selected the consortium Aqueduct Entertainment Group from among five bidders to develop the racino with up to 4,500 gambling machines.
That approval is subject to AEG paying a $300 million upfront licensing fee and other conditions, which the group said it’s committed to meeting. A formal agreement hasn’t been negotiated yet. The bids were not publicly disclosed.
Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos said legislators and the public have a right to know whether allegations in news reports of political favoritism and a federal investigation have any truth.
In a letter Thursday to Sen. John Sampson, who heads the majority Democrats, Skelos called for a bipartisan legislative hearing in early March. “Since the selection process was conducted in secret, finding out answers to these questions and concerns can only be done at a public hearing,” Skelos wrote.
Citing only “serious questions” raised about the deal, Silver asked Inspector General Joseph Fisch on Thursday to review the process, whether all appropriate laws were followed by the Lottery Division and assure that AEG meets all conditions in the future. They include a designated environmental review, requiring gaming licenses for all investors, partners, principals and others with no disqualifying criminal convictions, and a final approval for all changes by Silver, Sampson and Paterson.
Separately, Sen. Ruben Diaz, a Bronx Democrat, urged Sampson to create a committee to investigate AEG’s selection and any connection to sitting senators.
